Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes an ejection section having multiple nozzle surfaces aligned in one direction and configured to eject liquid from nozzles that are opened on each of the multiple nozzle surfaces, and a wiping section that wipes the multiple nozzle surfaces, wherein the wiping section further including an absorbing member that absorbs the liquid clinging to the multiple nozzle surfaces by contacting the multiple nozzle surfaces, multiple pressing members that press the absorbing member against the multiple nozzle surfaces, and multiple elastic members that press each of the multiple pressing members toward the ejection section.

Abstract: A liquid receiving device includes a liquid receiving portion configured to receive a liquid ejected from a liquid ejecting portion via an opening portion, a first discharge flow path configured to discharge the liquid in the liquid receiving portion, and a second discharge flow path configured to discharge the liquid in the liquid receiving portion. The liquid receiving portion includes an absorbing member, a first communication portion that has a first discharge port open to an inside of the liquid receiving portion, and a second communication portion that has a second discharge port open to an inside of the liquid receiving portion, the first communication portion is provided at a position where the first discharge port is in contact with the absorbing member, and the second communication portion is provided at a position where the second discharge port is not in contact with the absorbing member.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a first liquid from a nozzle, a liquid receiving portion configured to receive, in a state where a second liquid is accommodated in the liquid receiving portion, for a purpose of maintenance of the liquid ejecting portion, the first liquid discharged from the nozzle, a maintenance portion that maintains a liquid surface of a liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion at an upper limit position, and a discharge portion configured to discharge, from a discharge port open to the liquid receiving portion, the liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion. The discharge port is positioned below the upper limit position.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a first liquid from a nozzle, a liquid receiving portion configured to receive, in a state where a second liquid is accommodated in the liquid receiving portion, for a purpose of maintenance of the liquid ejecting portion, the first liquid discharged from the nozzle, a maintenance portion that maintains a liquid surface of a liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion at an upper limit position, and a discharge portion configured to discharge, from a discharge port open to the liquid receiving portion, the liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion. The discharge port is positioned below the upper limit position.

Abstract: A liquid storage unit for collecting a liquid supplied to an ejecting head is provided. The liquid is supplied to a plurality of ejecting heads via a pressure regulating valve, and the liquid is suctioned from the plurality of ejecting heads by a circulation pump, and then is discharged to the liquid storage unit. In this way, since the liquid is suctioned from each of the ejecting heads, the passage resistance is decreased, so that the ink can be appropriately circulated. In addition, since the ejecting head is supplied with the liquid at an appropriate pressure from the liquid storage unit via the pressure adjusting valve, the liquid can be appropriately ejected.

Abstract: A liquid storage unit for collecting a liquid supplied to an ejecting head is provided. The liquid is supplied to a plurality of ejecting heads via a pressure regulating valve, and the liquid is suctioned from the plurality of ejecting heads by a circulation pump, and then is discharged to the liquid storage unit. In this way, since the liquid is suctioned from each of the ejecting heads, the passage resistance is decreased, so that the ink can be appropriately circulated. In addition, since the ejecting head is supplied with the liquid at an appropriate pressure from the liquid storage unit via the pressure adjusting valve, the liquid can be appropriately ejected.

Abstract: A liquid storage unit for collecting a liquid supplied to an ejecting head is provided. The liquid is supplied to a plurality of ejecting heads via a pressure regulating valve, and the liquid is suctioned from the plurality of ejecting heads by a circulation pump, and then is discharged to the liquid storage unit. In this way, since the liquid is suctioned from each of the ejecting heads, the passage resistance is decreased, so that the ink can be appropriately circulated. In addition, since the ejecting head is supplied with the liquid at an appropriate pressure from the liquid storage unit via the pressure adjusting valve, the liquid can be appropriately ejected.

Abstract: An ink cartridge prevents ink from leaking from a waste ink recovery chamber, and an inkjet printer in which ink does not leak from the ink supply needle of the ink cartridge holder. The ink cartridge 10 has an ink chamber 30 and a waste ink inlet 57 in the top of the ink cartridge 30. Ink overflowing the capacity of the waste ink recovery chamber 20 flows through an ink trap 22 and into the ink cartridge 30 from the waste ink inlet 57. The ink supply needle 7 of the inkjet printer 1 has an ink path 73, valve member 90, and coil spring 74. The valve member 90 moves between a closed position 90A and a open position 90B according to whether or not an ink cartridge 10 is installed, and prevents ink from leaking from the ink supply needle 7.

Abstract: An ink cartridge prevents ink from leaking from a waste ink recovery chamber, and an inkjet printer in which ink does not leak from the ink supply needle of the ink cartridge holder. The ink cartridge 10 has an ink chamber 30 and a waste ink inlet 57 in the top of the ink cartridge 30. Ink overflowing the capacity of the waste ink recovery chamber 20 flows through an ink trap 22 and into the ink cartridge 30 from the waste ink inlet 57. The ink supply needle 7 of the inkjet printer 1 has an ink path 73, valve member 90, and coil spring 74. The valve member 90 moves between a closed position 90A and a open position 90B according to whether or not an ink cartridge 10 is installed, and prevents ink from leaking from the ink supply needle 7.

Abstract: A liquid storage unit for collecting a liquid supplied to an ejecting head is provided. The liquid is supplied to a plurality of ejecting heads via a pressure regulating valve, and the liquid is suctioned from the plurality of ejecting heads by a circulation pump, and then is discharged to the liquid storage unit. In this way, since the liquid is suctioned from each of the ejecting heads, the passage resistance is decreased, so that the ink can be appropriately circulated. In addition, since the ejecting head is supplied with the liquid at an appropriate pressure from the liquid storage unit via the pressure adjusting valve, the liquid can be appropriately ejected.

Abstract: A liquid storage unit for collecting a liquid supplied to an ejecting head is provided. The liquid is supplied to a plurality of ejecting heads via a pressure regulating valve, and the liquid is suctioned from the plurality of ejecting heads by a circulation pump, and then is discharged to the liquid storage unit. In this way, since the liquid is suctioned from each of the ejecting heads, the passage resistance is decreased, so that the ink can be appropriately circulated. In addition, since the ejecting head is supplied with the liquid at an appropriate pressure from the liquid storage unit via the pressure adjusting valve, the liquid can be appropriately ejected.

Abstract: A recording head 4 includes a nozzle plate 22 provided with nozzle openings 23 ejecting ink, a heater 30 heating the ink, and a head cover 40 provided in contact with the nozzle plate 22 and having a predetermined function of protecting the nozzle plate 22. The heater 30 heats the ink through the head cover 40 and the nozzle plate 22.

Abstract: A liquid storage unit for collecting a liquid supplied to an ejecting head is provided. The liquid is supplied to a plurality of ejecting heads via a pressure regulating valve, and the liquid is suctioned from the plurality of ejecting heads by a circulation pump, and then is discharged to the liquid storage unit. In this way, since the liquid is suctioned from each of the ejecting heads, the passage resistance is decreased, so that the ink can be appropriately circulated. In addition, since the ejecting head is supplied with the liquid at an appropriate pressure from the liquid storage unit via the pressure adjusting valve, the liquid can be appropriately ejected.

Abstract: A recording head 4 includes a nozzle plate 22 provided with nozzle openings 23 ejecting ink, a heater 30 heating the ink, and a head cover 40 provided in contact with the nozzle plate 22 and having a predetermined function of protecting the nozzle plate 22. The heater 30 heats the ink through the head cover 40 and the nozzle plate 22.

Abstract: By using a semiconductor laser of a relatively long wavelength relative to the track pitch of an optical recording medium, and the optical super-resolution technique, there are provided an optical head and an optical recording apparatus which permit processing such as recording and regeneration onto and from a conventional CD-R with no problems, and processing of an optical recording medium of the DVD standard with a high recording density. In the optical head and the optical recording apparatus of the present invention, a semiconductor laser having a relatively long wavelength relative to the track pitch of an optical recording medium can be used. The invention therefore provides an optical head and an optical recording apparatus which overcome the limit on efforts toward a higher density, and permit recording and regeneration at a high recording density at a low cost with a high reliability.

Abstract: An optical pick-up according to the present invention is designed such that laser beams having different polarization directions or different radiation angles are irradiated from laser beam sources formed in a surface emitting laser array to change the effective numerical aperture of an optical element having an objective lens, or the like. An optical pick-up having high capability with an optical disk having a low recording density and a thick substrate according to the CD standard, and an optical disk having a high recording density and a thin substrate according to the DVD standard, can be realized. A plurality of laser beam sources can be formed in a small space by employing a surface emitting laser array, and the numerical aperture of the optical system can be controlled by selecting a laser beam. For this reason, an optical pick-up having compatibility can be realized with an extremely simple arrangement, and a compact and high-performance optical pick-up can be provided at low cost.

Abstract: A plurality of inclined planes (1419) are formed in the same substrate (1406) and a polarizing optical thin film is provided on these inclined planes. These inclined planes are filled with a transparent material so as to form a small sized and complexed polarizer. This polarizer is excellent in transmission ratio and in extinction ratio. With this polarizer, it is possible to detect a magneto-optical signal with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This polarizer is used as a cover of a package (1408) of an optical head in which a light receiving device (1410, 1411) and a light emitting device (1409) are contained in the form of a single piece. There is also provided an optical element capable of adjusting optical paths so that the optical length of a returning optical beam may be different from the optical length of a forward optical beam. With this optical element, it becomes possible to delete the initial offset in a focusing error signal, and thus adjustment process becomes unnecessary.

Abstract: A laser emission unit for use in an optical head performs a plurality of functions which are integrated. A laser beam from the laser emission unit mounted in a lens holder is emitted through an objective lens and is focused on an optical medium. A reflected beam from the optical medium returns through the objective lens and a diffraction grating to a signal detection circuit in the laser emission unit. Since the laser emission unit performs a plurality of functions, the space for various elements otherwise required in the optical head can be eliminated. The space for an additional light path for the reflected beam is also eliminated. Therefore, the size of the optical head is very small. Since the optical head can be assembled by using a small number of parts, the production costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the optical head can shield the noises by using the housing and/or the lens holder itself.

Abstract: The focus detection mechanism of the invention diffracts the return light reflected off target surface by means of holographic element. The diffracted beams are both received by two long photodetection means as two astigmatic convergent beams that forms circles of least confusion on the same plane near focal plane of a lens. The focus detection signal is obtained from differential output of them. Since the mechanism can form two diffracted beams having circles of least confusion on the same plane, the photodetection means for detection can be disposed side by side, thus simplifying production with increased dimensional accuracy. Also, although a holographic element is used, wavelength fluctuation can be absorbed to provide extremely high reliability.

Abstract: An integrally-driven type optical head (1) in which a laser optical system (20) provided with a semiconductor laser (22) and a light receiving device is mounted in a moving part of an actuator (50). In this optical head, the moving part (5) is constituted by uniting a heat radiator (10) made of a metal or the like with a heat insulator (9) made of a plastic or the like. The heat conduction bonding of the heat radiator to the semiconductor laser is performed. A coil of the actuator is securely fixed to this heat radiator through the heat insulator. Thereby, heat generated from the semiconductor laser is transferred to the heat radiator and is then radiated from the surface of the heat radiator to the external space of the optical head. Further, in case where heat is generated by the coil when the actuator operates, the laser optical system can be prevented from being heated, because of the fact that the heat conductivity between the coil and the laser optical system is low.